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Wilbourn Slaves

I’m interested in history, no matter where it leads. Call it church history, since these people claimed Christianity. This post goes from 1790-1850

We hope this post helps all researchers find their roots.

GENERATION ONE

Thomas Wilbourn and Hannah Lamkin

William Hudson and Sarah

Two of Thomas’s sons (William and Jeremiah) married two of William’s daughters (Cairy and Polly).

GENERATION TWO

William Wilbourn and Cairy Hudson (our direct line)

Elizabeth Wilbourn and Henderson Wade

Jeremiah Wilbourn and Polly Hudson

Richard Wilbourn and Permelia Minter

George Wilbourn and (1) Susanna and (2) Virginia

GENERATION THREE

Only William and Cairy’s children who for sure owned slaves, per various record are listed here:

Champion Wilbourn and Elizabeth (Betsy) Ann (our direct line.)

Elizabeth Wilbourn and William Webb

Peter Hudson and Elizabeth (Betsy) Getzen

Catherine

John Wilbourn and Mary Elizabeth Tullis

Mary Wilbourn and Ebenezer Minter

James Monroe Wilbourn and Ann Elizabeth Tabb

The second generation bequeathed their slaves to the third one, so see the data in the section Second Generation, as well.

GENERATION ONE

THOMAS WILBOURN AND HANNAH LAMKIN

December 24, 1834, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama: in the Inventory and Appraisement, Thomas owned one unnamed woman and two children, valued at $700.00; and another unnamed woman and two children, valued at $475.00.

January 1, 1835, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama: in Thomas’s bill of sale, George Wilbourn bought a woman named Harriet for $636.00. R. (Richard) Wilbourn bought Patty, Charity, and a child for $798.00.

Look for William Hudson Senior and his slaves Phoebe, Barnet, Jane, Barton, all over 16 years old.

Stage 2

On November 28, 1809, in Edgefield District, South Carolina, William Hudson bequeaths some of his property to his son-in-law William Wilbourn and daughter Cary Wilbourn – our direct line. Note the names of the slaves.

Transcription Begins:

Know all men by these presents that I William Hudson . . . for and in consideration of the natural love and affection which I have and do have toward my beloved son in Law William Wilbourn and Daughter Cary Wilborn [sic] do give and grant to them and their heirs forever, the following property forever, to wit: one negroe wench [sic] named Jane, two Negroe Girls named LUCY and BETTY, and one negroe boy named JESSE . . . .

Transcription Ends.

Jane, Lucy and Betty appear in that deed of gift. Could it be that Lucy, Betty, and Jesse are Jane’s children?

Source: Deed Book 30, p. 29.

Stage 3

In William Wilbourn’s will, drawn up March 27, 1827, in Edgefield District, South Carolina, we find this clause:

Transcription Begins:

My wish and desire is that my Beloved wife Cary Wilborn do have the plantation and tract of land where on I now live which is the whole of my land and one half of the Mill on Cufferton Creek also . . . a woman by the name of LUCY and her three children

Transcription Ends.

There’s Lucy and her three children. What were their names? See below for the answer.

Source: Will Book C, p. 262

Stage 4

In William Wilbourn’s own Inventory and Appraisement, dated June 2, 1828, Edgefield District, South Carolina, we find these slaves and their monetary value:

Jinny is often a nickname of Jane ($100.00). If Jane and Jinny are the same person (and we’re not sure), she was over 16 in 1799, so she’s at least 45 in 1828.

The next stage says Iris was not Lucy’s daughter, so we have some confusion, which will be resolved at the estate sale, next.

Unfortunately, Jesse does not appear. What happened to him? We don’t know. If Jane and Jinny are not the same person, maybe Jane and Jesse were sold off.

Source: Equity #397

Stage 5

For some strange reason, William Wilbourn ordered in his will that his estate be put up for sale. This happened on December 15, 1828. Wilbourn’s widow Cairy buys back the slave women and their families.

Cairy bought Betty and her three children, for $560.00.

Cairy bought Jinny and a girl (named Bina, in another document, below), for $221.00. So if Jane and Jinny are the same person, she had a daughter.

Cairy bought the girl Iris for $75.00, so it may be that Iris was not Lucy’s daughter, but Cairy made it appear so. But Iris was very young, about three or four years old, so she probably was Lucy’s daughter.

This confusion may be one reason among others why Cairy’s son Peter Hudson Wilbourn sued his own mother over the estate. He claimed she deflated the prices of all the estate, but especially the slaves, by getting emotional during the sale. The purchasers were afraid to buy the items, not wanting to offend or sadden her even more.

Little did William Wilbourn know that the estate sale would cause a lawsuit.

Source: Equity #397

Stage 6

After a flurry of documents that charge and allege and counter-charge and defend, on June 25, 1831, the lawsuit finally went to trial. The court minutes survive in sloppy handwriting, which was difficult to transcribe.

Mr. Burton was Wilbourn’s neighbor and serves as a witness. He testifies, and the court recorder summarizes his testimony, as follows:

Transcription Begins:

Knew Betsy [Betty]- She had 3 children [knocked] off to Mrs W.; [Burton] thought they were sold cheap. Cant say whether cheaper than the other slaves to other persons-

Lucy & 3 children – $560. 20-25 years- young children, the Eldest, abt 5 years- The real worth of those slaves, at that time, & on that Credit of 12 ms about 750- or 800

The other legatees (Elder children) present & bid- by sale of Betty & her children, was the best bargain-

Capt. Belcher, another Wilbourn neighbor, testifies, per the court recorder’s summary, as follows:

Did not think Betty & her children were worth $700. The children very young- the eldest child between 4 & 5 years-

Transcription Ends.

Source: Equity #397

To sum up the court case, the judge ruled mostly in Cairy’s favor. He just told her to be careful in the management of the estate and to send her children to school, which she had been neglecting because of the expense. Account tables show she obeyed the judge’s orders.

Stage 7

Cairy and her family moved from Edgefield District, South Carolina to Yalobusha County, Mississippi, between December 2, 1834 and January 27, 1835. We can be sure that Cairy took Lucy and Betty and Jinny and their children with her because we have no record in Edgefield of their manumission or sale to another family. A little searching in Mississippi may turn up some records. It is likely the younger ones appear in the 1870 Census, in their own households.

Summary of their lives:

Jane (= Jinny?), Lucy, and Betty and their children endured a lot of instability. However, William and Cairy Wilbourn made sure they stayed together.

Key / King

Moreover, on March Edgefield District, South Carolina, William wrote a will and directed his wife keep some slaves who were not to be sold off. Some of their names are in the previous section. But an additional slave is named Key / King.

The clause reads: “one negro boy by the name of Key.” Other copies of the will say “King.”

For more about King, see his baptism, below.

Source: Will Book C, p. 262

All of William Wilbourn’s Slaves

Next, William Wilbourn was a wealthy plantation owner. In his Inventory and Appraisement, on or before June 28, 1828, this list of slaves appears, with their monetary value.

Bart ………….$200.00

King …………$325.00

Charles ………$325.00

Sank …………$300.00

Winny ……….$325.00

Eliza …………$300.00

Frankey ………$275

Barbra ……….$275.00

Vince …………$150.00

Lucy and children Amy, Milly, and Penny, all at $550.00

Nicey and boy James $400.00

Ned and wife Ester $250.00

Jinny …………$100.00

Sally and Husband Bob $100.00

Kizzy …………$300.00

Boy Phil ………$180.00

Fanny …………$50.00

Barnet $1.00 (sic) (one record says 5.00)

Lucy and children Elen (sic), Rachel, Iris, and Silvy, all at $700.00

In William Wilbourn’s will, he directed that all of his property should be put up for sale. This sale was done on December 15, 1828, in Edgefield.

The slaves were sold, as follows.

Bart goes to James Morris, for $206.00

Charles goes to Peter H. Wilbourn for $310.00 (Peter is William and Cairy’s son)

Winny goes to William Webb for $370.00 (Webb is William and Cairy’s son-in-law, who m. their daughter Elizabeth)

Frances (Frankey) goes to Catherine, for $300.00 (Catherine is William and Cairy’s daughter)

Eliza goes to Elizabeth A. Wilbourn, for $336 (Elizabeth Ann is William and Cairy’s daughter-in-law, who m. their son Champion)

Kizzie goes to James Jones Sen., for $300.00

Barbara goes to Cairy, for $207.00

Ginny and girl goes to Cairy, for $211.00

Philip goes to Cairy, for $188.00

Nicey and Boy Jim go to Peter H. Wilbourn, for $305.00

Iris goes to Cairy, for $75.00

Bob and wife Sally go to Joshua Harris, for $51.00

Barnet goes to Cairy, for $5.00

Ned and wife Ester goes to John Lyons, for $150.00

Betty and three children Amy, Milly, and Penny go to Cairy, for $560.00

Source: Equity #397

Further, William’s probate generated a lot of records, because of a lawsuit between his son Peter and his wife Cairy (Peter’s mother). The trial was held June 25, 1831. During the trial, the court recorder took notes, which were difficult to transcribe because the handwriting was sloppy. In addition to the notes transcribed, above, about Jane, Lucy, and Betty, other slaves were assessed, to see if Cairy depressed (as Peter alleges) the prices because she got emotional during the sale and scared off buyers from paying a higher price. They didn’t want to increase her grief.

Here are various testimonies from witnesses that describe the slaves, which are placed here without noting who testified.

At this time, a Letter of Dismission meant that a church member needed to leave and asked for a letter indicating he or she was in good standing with the church. The membership list says the Wilbourn dismissal date is November 2, 1834.

Transcription Begins:

Fifth Lord’s Day in November 1834: 7 members applied for letters of dismission, namely Wm Newman, & Jane his wife, Cairy Wilbourn, John Wilbourn, Mary Wilbourn, a coloured man named Kingston, belonging to Mrs. Wilbourn, and Martha Ruff (formerly Martha Harrison). The clerk was directed to prepare the letters.

Transcription Ends.

This indicates that King moved with the Wilbourns, Between December 2, 1834 and January 27, 1835.

April 23, 1836: A charge was brought against a collard [colored] man, Sank, formerly owned by Wm. C. Wilbourn, for stealing and for said offence is excommunicated from this church, this 23rd day of April 1836**

**The last entry was transcribed by William Linwood Hollingsworth in January 2007

This last entry indicates that Cairy had freed Sank, because the Wilbourns had moved to Mississippi, by January 27, 1835.

ELIZABETH WILBOURN and HENDERSON WADE

They are Thomas and Hannah’s daughter and son-in-law.

She and Henderson got married back in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, on January 6, 1795. They moved to Edgefield District, South Carolina, about two years later. He died on December 6 or 8 (smudged record), 1830. Her descendants say she died February 27, 1852, Pontotoc County, Mississippi.

February 1832: “On the second Lord’s Day of Feb’y Church met for prayer meeting, dore [sic: read “door”] opened received by experience two Black Members Jim and Letty his wife, both belonging to Widow [Elizabeth] Wade.”

Transcription Ends.

March 25, 1832: Widow Wade’s slave Jim was baptized.

April 4 or 21, 1832: a slave named Lavinda, belonging to Widow Elizabeth Wade, was received to be baptized, along with Sukey, belonging to Robert Harrison. Lavinda was baptized that day, while Sukey was baptized May 4.

April 22, 1832: Widow Wade’s slave Letty was baptized.

January 15, 1833: Widow Wade, and probably her two slaves Jim and Letty, are also dismissed by letter.

The date of the dismissal letters gives us a hint as to the timeframe for their move to Alabama, and much later she moved to Mississippi.

Elizabeth Wades’ slaves:

Jim

Letty

JEREMIAH WILBOURN and POLLY HUDSON

Jeremiah was born in the late 1770s and early 1780s. He married Mary (Polly) Hudson around 1798-1799 (his brother William married Cary Hudson, Polly’s sister, about 1793). Jeremiah and Polly moved from Virginia to Edgefield, South Carolina, with the other Wilbourns, between 1797 and1799. He died before November 2, 1829, when his will was probated, in Taliaferro County, Georgia. He predeceased his mother Hannah who lived to an advanced age. He may have predeceased his father Thomas, who died before March 20, 1830. It is not known yet when Mary (Polly) died.

BARNET

The slave Barnet enjoys a rare privilege. We get to follow his life in the historical documents. We can look at them in six stages. The first two take place in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, and the last four in Edgefield and Lauren Districts, South Carolina.

Stage 1

William Hudson is Polly’s father and Jeremiah’s father-in-law. Barnet (Burnet) appears in the 1790 Tax List, in William Sr.’s household. Barnet is 12 years old. Click here:

Sometime after 1804, probably after William’s wife Sarah dies, he moves to Edgefield and Laurens District, South Carolina. On November 29, 1809, William bequeaths Barnet to William’s daughter Polly and her husband Jeremiah Wilbourn (see her name, above).

Transcription Begins:

South Carolina

Edgefield District

Know all men by these presents that I WILLIAM HUDSON of the district and state aforesaid for and in consideration of the natural love and affection which I have and do bear toward, my beloved Son in Law JEREMIAH WILBORN and POLLY WILBOURN, them and their heirs forever the following Property, to wit: one negroe [sic] fellow named BARNETT one negroe [sic] boy named EMMANUEL ….

Transcription Ends.

Source: Deed Book 30, p. 40.

Barnet evidently moved to South Carolina from Virginia, with his owner William Hudson.

Stage 4

He appears in the Bethany Baptist Church records, in Edgefield District. He was baptized, with the white families and many other slaves, on September 23, 1810. In the list of the slaves baptized and their owners, Barnet appears as belonging to Jeremiah Wilbern.

Stage 5

But then trouble brews. On March 21, 1812, George Wilbourn, Jeremiah’s brother, was called, along with John Longmire (Longmires were neighbors of the Wilbourns), to examine the charge that Barnett behaved in a “disorderly” way. But what does that mean? George and John were to look into the circumstances and report at the next church meeting.

Here is a transcription of the church minutes:

March the 21st 1812

The church met and after sermon proceeded to business. Information being given to the church that Barnet a Black member had acted disorderly they proceeded to nominate Brethren Jo’n Longmire [neighbor of our William Wilbourn] George Wilborn [our William Wilbourn’s brother] to examine the circumstance and report to the next church meeting.

April 25 – the church [carted in:] met and [careted in:] after the usual Services were performed a door for the reception [of] members were [sic] opened One Received by Experience. 2nd the case of Barnet a Black Member was taken into consideration and from the report of our Brethren Jn’ Longmire and George Wilborn he is undoubtedly guilty of the charge (which was Adultery) for which we have Excluded him from our Society . . . .

Transcription Ends.

Interestingly, Jeremiah was never recorded as being a member of the church, but he allowed his slave to join.

Stage 6

When Jeremiah Wilbourn’s inventory and appraisement was taken on January 1, 1830 after his decease in Taliaferro County, Georgia, Barnett is not named. Where was he?

Jeremiah’s brother (our) William died on March 24, 1828. His inventory and appraisement was taken June 2, 1828. He owned over 20 slaves, and Barnet appears as one of them. He was valued at only $1.00. In William’s will he directed that all his property be put up for sale. This was done on December 15, 1828. William’s wife Cairy Wilbourn is shown as buying Barnet, for $5.00. So it seems he did not move to Georgia, but he remained in South Carolina.

It is difficult to discuss the price for humans, but it must be done, for history’s sake. But why was Barnet’s price so small? Maybe it was his age. Barnet was twelve years old in 1790, so he was born in 1778. In 1828, he was fifty. But this age would not necessarily demand such a low price.

So more than likely, he had a disability.

See more about William and Cairy’s slaves, above.

In any case, between December 2, 1834 and January 27, 1835, Cairy and her family moved from Edgefield District, South Carolina to Yalobusha County, Mississippi. Barnet likely went with them, for we have no record of his manumission or a bill of sale to another family.

All of Jeremiah’s Slaves

Jeremiah’s Inventory and Appraisement was taken January 1, 1830, Taliaferro County, Georgia. His slaves and their monetary value are as follows.

Tom, a man $400.00

Edmond, a man $350.00

Clary (?) a woman and child $300.00

Mary, a girl $125.00

Seal (?), a woman $250.00 (her name may be Sela)

Hall, a boy $300.00

Mariah, a woman $250.00

Selina, a girl $275.00

Ned, a boy, $231.25

Lettey, a Woman $250.00

Lucy, a woman $206.25

Rener (sic), a woman, 56.25 (see George Wilbourn, below)

Source: Account Book A, pp. 243-46

Then on January 7, 1830, an estate sale was held.

Augustin Green bought Lucy for $290.00

Martha Woodall bought Hall for $265.00 and Ned for $346.00

Turner Bowles hired Mariah for $36.50

William Porter hired Sela for $31.50

Samuel Thompson hired Selina for $39.00

Source: Account Book A, pp. 270-73

RICHARD WILBOURN and PERMELIA MINTER

He was born 1771-1780. He married Permelia Minter most likely 1808-1809. She was born 1781-1790. His descendants say he migrated to Texas and died in about 1856, DeWitt County. It is not known to us (so far) when and where Permelia died.

Richard and family moved from Edgefield District, South Carolina, and to Sumter County, Alabama, probably in the 1830s, and probably with his sister Elizabeth (Wilbourn) Wade.

January 4, 1841: Sumter County. Richard Willborn sells or gives away slaves to Thomas Willborn. He may be Richard’s son or brother (I think he’s his son).

Here are the slaves’ names, and their ages:

Alfred (24)

Mary (24) and her two children Sofa (3) and Sampson (1)

Meinda / Manda (18)

Millie (26) and three children Gill (8), Charlotte (4), Solomon (1)

Patsy (?) (24) and two children Nelson (7) and Charles (3)

Let (34) and three children Mary (8), Hulda (5), and Liza (6 mos)

John (55)

Antony (15)

Bill (15)

Signed Richard X Willbone (sic); wit: Isaiah Coleman and Jeremiah Brown. The clerk writes at bottom of the page: “Delivered”

Source: Deed Book E, p. 656

GEORGE WILBOURN and (1) SUSANNA and (2) VIRGINIA

He was born 1791-1800. He married Susannah (last name unknown) about 1818-1820. Sometime in or after 1821, they moved to Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, with his parents Thomas and Hannah. After Susannah died, George remarried to Virginia. He died before December 20, 1842, Tuscaloosa County, where his estate inventory is taken. It is not yet known when Susannah died, but she does not appear in the 1840 Census, so she most likely passed away before it was taken in the spring to June. This absence also explains why she does not appear in the inventory of George’s estate. Virginia, George’s second wife, died before January 1, 1847, when her final accounts were in the process of being settled.

All of George’s Slaves

George’s Inventory and Appraisement, dated December 20, 1842, has this list of slaves. The surviving Wilbourn family made sure that the clerk specified that the slaves consist of family groups. Each slave is named with his or her age and monetary value.

Family One

Tom (40) $525.00

Ellen (57) (sic), his wife $142.50

Bob (20) $712.50

Emeline (13) $375.00

Caroline (12) $350.00

Family Two

Dennis (55) $257.50

Dinah (55), his wife, $200.00

Phillis and child Henry Clay, 18 and 2 mos. $525.00

Family Three

Peter (40) $475.00

Harriet (about 45), his wife $275.00

John (18) $675.00

Jinny (19) $462.50

Family Four

Mary (23) and three children Sarah (7), Jackson (4), and Alonzo (2) $987.50

Rena (24) and child Lena (?) (3) $550.00

Mourning (28) $400.00

Jinny (60) $143.75

Hise (13) $375.00

Tom (14) $462.50

George’s surviving family did not sell their slaves. Rather, the family hired them out to neighbors, to work the land. The account names the renters, but not the slaves’ names, so this account is omitted here.

Source: the modern-day clerk of Tuscaloosa County has alphabetized the probate records.

George’s second wife Virginia died before January 1, 1847, and her decease generated a lot of records.

Miss Virginia Wilbourn, their minor daughter, received these slaves – or, rather, her guardian did, because she was a minor.

Slaves: John, Mary, and child, and Ann, Sarah, Susan (sic), and old Jinny, all valued at $2050.00

John C. Wilbourn, minor son of George and Virginia, received these slaves, or rather, his guardian did:

Slaves: Peter, Harriet, Hisey and child and Henry and boy Jack, all valued at $2045.00

There are two other minor children, Champion and Frances, but they are not recorded as receiving slaves. Maybe the record is lost. Presumably, they received the ones not taken by Virginia and John.

These children hired out their slaves.

In 1848, John C. Wilbourn hired out his slaves, for $288.00, but they are not named.

In 1848, Miss Frances Wilbourn hired out her slaves, for $262.00, but they are not named.

In 1848, Virginia hired out her slaves for $223.25, but they are not named.

In 1849, John hired out these slaves to different renters at different times. Only the slaves and their values are listed here:

Peter and Harriet, $190.00

Hisey and child $80.00

Jack $18.50 (his formal name may be Jackson)

Peter and Harriet $110.00

Hisey and child $60.00

Jack $22.50

In 1849, Virginia hired out her slaves at different times in that year and to different renters. Only the slaves and their value are listed here:

John $117.50

Mary & ch[ild] $13.75

Sarah $47.00

Old Jinny $45.00

John $91.00

Sarah $40.00

Jinny $10.00

Mary & child $10.00

In 1850, John hired out his slaves, for $264.50, but they are not named.

In 1850, Virginia hired out her slaves for $190.00, but they are not named.

GENERATION THREE

We can consider George’s kids John C. Wilbourn, Virginia Wilbourn, and Frances Wilbourn, above, as part of Generation Three. But see their slaves, above.

Champion Wilbourn appears in the 1820 Census, Edgefield District, South Carolina, but he did not own slaves. He probably was managing his father William’s plantation.

Recall that his wife Elizabeth Ann bought back a slave named Eliza in her father-in-law estate sale, December 15, 1828.

In the 1840 Census, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, E. A. Wilbourn, marked down in the 40-49 age range, owned one slave, but she also hired “free colored” farm hands; that is, they worked in agriculture.

Elizabeth Wilbourn and William Webb

They bought slave Winny, for $370.00 in the deceased father’s estate.

Peter H. Wilbourn and Elizabeth Getzen

In Peter H.’s father’s estate sale, he bought Charles for $310.00 and Nicey and Boy Jim, for $305.00. Peter appears in the 1830 Census, Edgefield District, as the head of household. He owns two unnamed male slaves, aged 0-9 and 10-23, and one unnamed female slave, 36-54. The records match up.

Catherine

In her father’s estate sale, she bought Frances (Frankey), for $300.00.

John Wilbourn and Mary Elizabeth Tullis

He appears in the 1840 Census, Northern District, Yalobusha County. He has one male slave (24 and under 36) and three female slaves (all 10 and under 24). Five persons are employed in agriculture.

Mary Wilbourn and Ebenezer J. Minter

They appears in the 1840 Census, Northern District, Yalobusha County, as a neighbor to James M. Wilbourn. In the Minter household, they have seven slaves. Males: 1 under 10; 2 between 24 and 35; Females: 2 under 10; 1 10-23; and 1 24-35. Five are employed in agriculture.

James M. Wilbourn and Ann Elizabeth Tabb

He appears in the 1840 Census, Yalobusha County, Mississippi. One male slave is 10-23; one is 24-35; one is between 55 and100. One female slave is under 10; two are 10-23; and one 24-35. Five persons work in agriculture.

ADDENDUM

A certain Thomas Wilbourn settled and then died before September 11, 1826, in Putnam County, Georgia, which is near enough to Edgefield District, South Carolina, across the Savannah River. He was a prosperous landowner. Normally, we would not consider him a son of the elder Thomas and Hannah, but records in Edgefield name a Thomas Jr. Also one or two of the Putnam County Thomas’s daughters settled in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, where the elder Wilbourns settled.

To find out more, go to this link, and scroll down until you find Thomas Jr.

Thomas Wilbourn and Hannah Lamkin

It is more likely that another Thomas (option #2 at that link), who lived near the elderly Hannah, per the 1830 Census, is her son (the elder Thomas had died before March 20, 1830).

In any case, we include the Putnam County Thomas here, since we have his will and Inventory and Appraisement.

His Inventory and Appraisement was completed September 29, 1826. His slaves and their monetary value are as follows: